History Main / BetterTheDevilYouKnow

* The [[UsefulNotes/TheChechnyaWars First Chechen War]] saw the Chechens winning their (partial) independence from Russia after being in its control for centuries, but the land soon began to splinter between warlords that promoted radical Islamism. When Sharia law became enforced, several Chechens became disillusioned with the independence and soon began to support the secular Russians to fight the radicals when the second war broke out.

* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2'' has this as a plot point when the player first learns of [[spoiler: the Patriots]]. The President says that even though their existence is a stranglehold on the true ideas of American freedom, if they cease to exist (according to him), the ensuing political power vaccum can wreak massive, unforseen danger to current American society if not the world.

[[folder: Radio]]* Played rather literally in ''Radio/OldHarrysGame''. Scumspawn (a demon) tries to persuade Thomas (a condemned soul) to help get Satan and the Professor out of hot water with the angels, as Satan's replacement could be even worse. "Better the devil you know!" Thomas retorts that people who say that ''haven't met him''. "I have! He's a [[ShovelStrike shovel-happy]] little git!" [[/folder]]

[[folder: Radio]]* Played rather literally in ''Radio/OldHarrysGame''. Scumspawn (a demon) tries to persuade Thomas (a condemned soul) to help get Satan and the Professor out of hot water with the angels, as Satan's replacement could be even worse. "Better the devil you know!" Thomas retorts that people who say that ''haven't met him''. "I have! He's a [[ShovelStrike shovel-happy]] little git!" [[/folder]]

[[folder: Radio]]* Played rather literally in ''Radio/OldHarrysGame''. Scumspawn (a demon) tries to persuade Thomas (a condemned soul) to help get Satan and the Professor out of hot water with the angels, as Satan's replacement could be even worse. "Better the devil you know!" Thomas retorts that people who say that ''haven't met him''. "I have! He's a [[ShovelStrike shovel-happy]] little git!" [[/folder]]

* In ''Series/{{Sons of Anarchy}}'', the whole reason Chief Unser aids the Sons is because they're a lesser threat to Charming than other gangs in the surrounding areas. Even Deputy Chief Hale, who is otherwise incorruptible, is willing to cooperate with them against the [[{{Those Wacky Nazis}} League of American Nationalists]], specifically referring to Ethan Zobelle as "the greater devil" than Clay Morrow.

* This is why SelfDemonstrating/DrDoom has ruled Latveria for so long. He's evil, yes, but every time he's been replaced, the guy taking his place has been an even ''worse'' tyrant, as was [[AssholeVictim the guy that he replaced originally]]. If nothing else, he's good at protecting the place from external threats. When he returns, the citizens are always glad to have him back.

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* This is why SelfDemonstrating/DrDoom ComicBook/DoctorDoom has ruled Latveria for so long. He's evil, yes, but every time he's been replaced, the guy taking his place has been an even ''worse'' tyrant, as was [[AssholeVictim the guy that he replaced originally]]. If nothing else, he's good at protecting the place from external threats. When he returns, the citizens are always glad to have him back.

** TheTeam did this once when a Yeerk inspector came to Earth to see why the invasion was taking so long, and would have taken the Visser's place once the Andalite bandits had been taken care of. The Animorphs end up killing the inspector so Visser Three stays in charge; "better the evil we know and makes stupid mistakes than the one who doesn't."** This is also their logic for not wanting Visser One to take over the Earth invasion again---which she proves by figuring out they're humans. [[PlayingWithATrope However this one is more complicated]]. Visser One wants a slow, secret infiltration of the planet while Visser Three wants to declare all-out war and kill millions or more people, so that the Animorphs have to balance Yeerk politics to get Visser One's ''methods'' while keeping Visser Three ''the person'' in power.

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** TheTeam did this once when a Yeerk inspector came to Earth to see why the invasion was taking so long, and would have taken the Visser's place once the Andalite bandits had been taken care of. The Animorphs end up killing the inspector so Visser Three stays in charge; charge: "better the evil we know and makes stupid mistakes than the one who doesn't."** This is also their logic for not wanting Visser One to take over the Earth invasion again---which again--which she proves by figuring out they're humans. [[PlayingWithATrope However this one is more complicated]]. Visser One wants a slow, secret infiltration of the planet while Visser Three wants to declare all-out war and kill millions or more people, so that the Animorphs have to balance Yeerk politics to get Visser One's ''methods'' while keeping Visser Three ''the person'' in power.

* The old RobinHood TV show (in black and white) had an episode that was titled this trope. It involved the Sheriff of Nottingham being replaced with a much more cunning and immoral man. Robin commented on the fact that they had been able to depend on the regular Sheriff being only so evil and still following the law when pressed. The new guy? not at all.

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* The old RobinHood Myth/RobinHood TV show (in black and white) had an episode that was titled this trope. It involved the Sheriff of Nottingham being replaced with a much more cunning and immoral man. Robin commented on the fact that they had been able to depend on the regular Sheriff being only so evil and still following the law when pressed. The new guy? not at all.

[[folder:Video Games]]* Lampshaded in ''VideoGame/{{Starcraft}}'' to explain why the heroes of the story were working with ''Kerrigan'' ("Queen Bitch of the Universe," in her own words, and TheLeader of an alien locust swarm) of all people to fight the [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters UED.]] - a dictatorship lead by [[RecycledInSpace Space Russians from Earth]], who's only contact with the heroes so far have involved bullets.* The first half of ''VideoGame/BrutalLegend'' sees Eddie Riggs help out rebel leader Lars Halford, who's trying to free his people from the tyrannical rule of General Lionwhyte. They succeed, but the instant they do [[Creator/TimCurry Emperor Doviculus]] turns up, [[spoiler: kills Lars]], and shatters the rebel army. Turns out Lionwhyte was the only guy able to convince [[BigBad Doviculus]] not to KillAllHumans.* Villainous variation in ''VideoGame/{{Shantae}}''. When push comes to shove, Risky prefers to allow the titular heroine to regain all her magic powers and keep her as a rival than allow [[spoiler:the Pirate Master]] to have his way.[[/folder]]

* ''WesternAnimation/JimmyTwoShoes'': This is why you don't defrost the old leaders of Miseryville. Lucious von Heinous the VIIth might be the devil, but compared to his dad, grandfather and great grandfathers way back down to Lucious von Heinous the Ist, he's the best of a bad situation.

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* ''WesternAnimation/JimmyTwoShoes'': This is why you don't defrost the old leaders of Miseryville. Lucious von Heinous the VIIth [=VIIth=] might be the devil, but compared to his dad, grandfather and great grandfathers way back down to Lucious von Heinous the Ist, he's the best of a bad situation.

[[folder:Video Games]]* Lampshaded in ''VideoGame/{{Starcraft}}'' to explain why the heroes of the story were working with ''Kerrigan'' ("Queen Bitch of the Universe," in her own words, and TheLeader of an alien locust swarm) of all people to fight the [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters UED.]] - a dictatorship lead by [[RecycledInSpace Space Russians from Earth]], who's only contact with the heroes so far have involved bullets.* The first half of ''VideoGame/BrutalLegend'' sees Eddie Riggs help out rebel leader Lars Halford, who's trying to free his people from the tyrannical rule of General Lionwhyte. They succeed, but the instant they do [[Creator/TimCurry Emperor Doviculus]] turns up, [[spoiler: kills Lars]], and shatters the rebel army. Turns out Lionwhyte was the only guy able to convince [[BigBad Doviculus]] not to KillAllHumans.* Villainous variation in ''VideoGame/{{Shantae}}''. When push comes to shove, Risky prefers to allow the titular heroine to regain all her magic powers and keep her as a rival than allow [[spoiler:the Pirate Master]] to have his way.[[/folder]]

* Invoked in ''ComicBook/{{Irredeemable}}'' a few times. First was when Qubit [[spoiler:used the bullet made from the wax of the Nahru Visna Candle (the only known [[PowerNullifier object in existence to depower the Plutonian]]) to kill Orian instead, as Orian had a demonic army ready to invade earth the moment the Plutonian is defeated]]. The second was when [[spoiler: Qubit fears that The Survivor is becoming Plutonian 2.0, and thus works with Plutotian's ArchEnemy Modeus to bust him out of TheAlcatraz prison he's being held in]].

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* Invoked in ''ComicBook/{{Irredeemable}}'' a few times. First was when Qubit [[spoiler:used the bullet made from the wax of the Nahru Visna Candle (the only known [[PowerNullifier object in existence to depower the Plutonian]]) to kill Orian instead, as Orian had a demonic army ready to invade earth Earth the moment the Plutonian is defeated]]. The second was when [[spoiler: Qubit fears that The Survivor is becoming Plutonian 2.0, and thus works with Plutotian's ArchEnemy Modeus to bust him out of TheAlcatraz prison he's being held in]].

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